Senior government officials, Romanian law-enforcement authorities, and representatives offoreign embassies and international organisationsgathered in Bucharest last week for the4th Round Table on Shared Responsibility and Accountability in Reducing Trafficking in Persons, organised by theMinistry of Internal Affairsand theNational Agency against Trafficking in Persons (ANITP)under the leadership ofMaria Cristina Stăpănescu. The meeting brought together participants from theNational Visa Centre, theInternational Organization for Migration, and diplomatic missions from labour-sending countries acrossSouth Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
The discussions focused on mitigating risks linked to trafficking, ensuring compliance with Romanian immigration and labour laws, and protecting migrant workers from exploitation. Authorities highlighted that the dream of a better life can be misused by criminal networks, turning migration into a trap of abuse and forced labour.
During the interactive session, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Romania, Madurika Joseph Weninger, raised insightful questions on the measures Romania employs to prevent illegal recruitment and safeguard foreign workers. She underscored the importance of accountability, proactive enforcement, and cross-border cooperation to ensure lawful, safe migration for all. Ambassador Weninger was joined by First Secretary, Kaushalya Prarthana and Attache R. Ratheesparan, who contributed to discussions on strengthening protections for migrant communities.
The roundtable concluded with a reaffirmed commitment from all participants to coordinated action, awareness-raising, and robust mechanisms to combat trafficking while promoting lawful employment and protection for vulnerable migrants.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Bucharest
19 December 2025
